Law Enforcement, Hospitals working together to prevent prescription drug abuse

Law Enforcement, Hospitals working together to prevent prescription drug abuse

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Updated: 6:40 PM PDT Oct 22, 2016

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WEBVTT
ACTION NEWS REPORTER BIANCA
BELTRAN JOINS US LIVE WITH THE
DETAILS.
REPORTER: LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE
SEEN THESE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS GO
FROM THE MEDICINE CABINET TO THE
HALLS OF SCHOOLS, WITH THEIR
LAST STOP OFTEN BEING THE E.R..
THEY ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL
DOCTORS AND TREATMENT CENTERS TO
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE FROM FIRS
FROM THE FIRST DOCTOR'S VISIT
TO THE LAST.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE HELPED
THE DEA COLLECT OVER SIX MILLION
POUNDS OF PILLS AT THEIR DRUG
TAKE BACK EVENTS.
IT IS NOT ILLEGAL FOR PEOPLE
POSSESS PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AS
LONG AS THEY HAVE THE
PRESCRIPTION.
WHAT CONCERNS US IS WHEN THEY
GET INTO THE WRONG HANDS.
REPORTER: ADDICTION CAN OFTEN
STEM FROM A SIMPLE PRESCRIPTION.
>> SOME PEOPLE GET ADDICTED TO
PRESCRIPTI DRUGS THROUGH
SPORTS INJURIES.
A YOUNG TEENAGER WILL HURT HIS
FOOT OR HIS ARM.
OR HER ON A GAME.
THEY GO TO THE DOCTOR AND THEY
GIVE THEM SOME PAIN MEDICATION.
REPORTER: LOCAL HOSPITALS SEE AT
LEAST ONE PRESCRIPTION DRUG
RELATED DEATH A WEEK.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT SINCE
DOCTORS AT THE COMMUNITY
HOSPITAL FOR THE MONTEREY
PENINSULA STARTED REDUCING
PRESCRIPTIONS THREE YEARS AGO,
DRUG RELATED DEATHS HAVE GONE
DOWN 32%.
BUT STUDIES SHOW THAT A MAJORITY
OF ABUSED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
COME FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
>> WE NEED TO BE CHECKING
MEDICINE CABINETS EVERY 6
MONTHS, GETTING RID OF ANYTHIN
EXPIRED WHETHER IT IS TYLENOL,
PRESCRIPTION MEDS.
BECAUSE WE DO DO THIS TWICE A
YEAR YOU ARE ABLE TO DROP THEM
OFF WITH US.
REPORTER: THE CARMEL POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THE CARMEL DRUG
STORE TAKE THEM YEAR-ROUND.

Law Enforcement, Hospitals working together to prevent prescription drug abuse